The lookout over Laguna de Apoyo is a family-friendly spot with growing domestic tourism within the plant-filled town of Catarina.
El Mirador de Catarina is a classic Nicaragua tourist spot, and it's a great pit stop with kids if you're headed to the Rivas / San Juan del Sur / Tola area from Managua.
On our most recent visit, I was surprised by the huge number of domestic tourists (although it was a Sunday, which means it will be more packed than usual), and that the town has added a lot more to the Mirador area, with new park areas and an arboretum.
Highlights
Gorgeous view of Laguna de Apoyo
Pleasant climate
Only pay a small fee for for parking
Variety of activities for all ages
Plenty of food options at many different price points
Getting Around Mirador de Catarina with Kids
Parking: There is plenty of parking for a small fee - we paid about C$20.
Walking: Once you get in and park, exploring on foot is the way to go! Just know that the paths are pretty steep right at the top of the Mirador, but my 3-year old was able to walk around holding our hands.
Strollers: I saw some people navigating a stroller along the paths, but they are pretty bumpy, and I personally think it would make exploring the area tricky. The ubiquitous plastic Step2-type cars that are used by tons of Nicaraguan families seemed to have an easier time than a traditional stroller.
Baby Carrier: Highly recommended for the littlest ones! This is how I carted around my 6-month old, and he had a great time. Added bonus that Catarina is slightly less hot than Managua, so we both got less sweaty than usual...
Part of the new park area. Real monkey not pictured!
Entertainment
This area had changed so much since I'd last visited several years ago, and there are a lot more activities now, including:
Trails
Horseback rides down the trail
Horseback photo ops (including one poor pony with a dyed pink mane...)
Zipline / Canopy
Arboreteum
Park
Restaurants and food stands
Shopping in the parking area
For the more athletic types, I did see a few cyclists coming up the hill. You'd have to be in pretty good shape to enjoy that steep climb, though!
We passed on the pink pony photo op (offered to us for 50 Cordobas) and picked up some elotes locos instead. Elotes locos are corn on the cob, usually with mayonaisse and shredded cheese rolled on top. This particular place also offered barbecue sauce, which I'd never seen before, and the corn was sweet yellow corn rather than the typical white pig corn. Super sabrosos!
We also spotted a monkey up in the trees! My daughter was very excited about that, and the monkey seemed pretty content to put on a show for all of us spectators below.
Overall Review: 5/5
Mirador de Catarina is a great way to spend an afternoon with family. We love combining Mirador de Catarina with a shopping trip to Masatepe (the best place to buy wood furniture - a topic for another post!) or on the way to Rivas.
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